WHAT DOES BAPTISM SYMBOLIZE?
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. What does the Bible say baptism means or symbolizes?
a) Baptism is the ceremony that those who are truly repentant of their sins must undergo in order to be forgiven and receive the gift of God's Holy Spirit. Being baptized is a requirement of salvation (Mark 16:16; Titus 3:5). The full symbolism of this simply ceremony can be understood when one accepts the Biblical teaching that believers should be COMPLETLY immersed in water (see Acts 2:38, 5:30 - 32, Luke 3:3, 24:46 - 47, Romans 5 - 6 and Colossians 2:12).
b) Some teach that a person be can properly baptized by merely sprinkling, pouring, etc. water on them. This belief is not only unsubstantiated in the Bible, it clouds and obscures what the baptismal service truly represents!
c) Once a person is baptized, the laying on of hands ceremony occurs (see Acts 6:6, 8:15 - 17, James 5:14 - 15, etc.). This service should be carried out by those who are mature in age and in the faith (they have been a Christian for 10, 15 or more years). They do NOT have to be "ordained" or organizationally approved before they can participate. Hands are placed on the believers head and shoulders, and prayers are made to God that he (if it is his will) grant the person the gift of his Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14 - 15, 17, 19:4 - 6).
d) Baptism is a visible declaration that a person has repented of their sins, accepted Jesus as his or her personal Savior, and is willing to commit their entire life in humble obedience and service to God (Acts 2:36 - 38).
e) The book of Romans, chapter 6, teaches a person's complete immersion in water symbolizes the total death and burial of their 'old self' or pre-conversion way of living. It is through this action that the believer becomes spiritually conjoined into the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ and has His blood applied as full payment for their sins.
i) 3. Or are you ignorant that we, as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus, were baptized into His death? 4. Therefore, we were buried with Him through the baptism into the death; so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead . . . we also should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3 - 4, HBFV)
f) Rising up out of the baptism waters symbolizes conjoining into the resurrection of Jesus Christ. When a believer comes up out of the "watery grave" after they have been baptized, he or she rises to a newness of life.
i) 12. Having been buried with Him in baptism, by which you have also been raised with Him through the inner working of God, Who raised Him from the dead. (Colossians 2:12, see also verse 13, 3:9 - 10 and 2Corinthians 5:17).
The End ...
1. What does the Bible say baptism means or symbolizes? a) Baptism is the ceremony that those who are truly repentant of their sins must undergo in order to be forgiven and receive the gift of God's Holy Spirit. Being baptized is a requirement of salvation (Mark 16:16; Titus 3:5). The full symbolism of this simply ceremony can be understood when one accepts the Biblical teaching that believers should be COMPLETLY immersed in water (see Acts 2:38, 5:30 - 32, Luke 3:3, 24:46 - 47, Romans 5 - 6 and Colossians 2:12).
b) Some teach that a person be can properly baptized by merely sprinkling, pouring, etc. water on them. This belief is not only unsubstantiated in the Bible, it clouds and obscures what the baptismal service truly represents!
c) Once a person is baptized, the laying on of hands ceremony occurs (see Acts 6:6, 8:15 - 17, James 5:14 - 15, etc.). This service should be carried out by those who are mature in age and in the faith (they have been a Christian for 10, 15 or more years). They do NOT have to be "ordained" or organizationally approved before they can participate. Hands are placed on the believers head and shoulders, and prayers are made to God that he (if it is his will) grant the person the gift of his Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14 - 15, 17, 19:4 - 6).
d) Baptism is a visible declaration that a person has repented of their sins, accepted Jesus as his or her personal Savior, and is willing to commit their entire life in humble obedience and service to God (Acts 2:36 - 38).
e) The book of Romans, chapter 6, teaches a person's complete immersion in water symbolizes the total death and burial of their 'old self' or pre-conversion way of living. It is through this action that the believer becomes spiritually conjoined into the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ and has His blood applied as full payment for their sins.
i) 3. Or are you ignorant that we, as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus, were baptized into His death? 4. Therefore, we were buried with Him through the baptism into the death; so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead . . . we also should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3 - 4, HBFV)
f) Rising up out of the baptism waters symbolizes conjoining into the resurrection of Jesus Christ. When a believer comes up out of the "watery grave" after they have been baptized, he or she rises to a newness of life.
i) 12. Having been buried with Him in baptism, by which you have also been raised with Him through the inner working of God, Who raised Him from the dead. (Colossians 2:12, see also verse 13, 3:9 - 10 and 2Corinthians 5:17).
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